Solving Naptime Problems

Napping
is an important component of a child’s healthy mental and physical growth. A
daily nap refreshes a child so that she can maintain her energy, focus, and
ability to learn for the rest of the day. Some studies even show that young
children who nap every day are more flexible and adaptable, have longer attention spans and are less fussy than those
who don’t nap.

How can you tell if your child needs a nap?If you watch carefully, and if you know what to look for, you will be able
to tell if your child needs a nap. Here are some of the signs that your child
needs a daily nap:

Wakes up in a good mood,
but gets whiny and cranky as the day progresses

Has more patience early in
the day, but is more easily aggravated later on

Cries more easily in the
afternoon and evening than she does early in the day

Has an afternoon or early
evening slump, but gets a second wind later in the day

Shows tired signs in the
afternoon such as yawning, rubbing eyes, or looking slightly glazed

Often falls asleep in the
car or when watching a movie

How
much naptime does your child need?Children differ in their sleep
needs, some naturally needing less or more than shown here ¾ but what
follows is a general guide that applies to most of them. Keep in mind, though,
that even if your child’s sleep hours add up to the right amount, his or her
behavior tells you more than any chart possibly could. When in doubt – always
try for a nap, since even a period of quiet time can help a child feel more
refreshed.

When should your child nap?The timing of your child’s naps is important since a nap that occurs too
late in the day will prevent your child from being tired when bedtime
approaches. Generally, the best nap times are as follows:

How long should a nap
be?The goal for a nap is to allow your child to get adequate rest to fuel the
rest of the day. The optimal length of naps varies by age and among children,
but the best naps are usually 1 to 2 hours in length. The previous sleep chart
can give you a good rule of thumb for your child.

If your child tends towards short naps, don’t give in and
assume that it’s all the nap time that she needs. Try some of these tips for
increasing the length of her naps:

Give
your child lunch or a snack about a half hour before nap

·Make
certain the sleeping room is dark.

·Play soothing music or white noise during
the entire nap.

·Make sure that your child is comfortable. He
shouldn’t get too cold or too hot. His sleeping attire should be cozy.

·Check to see if discomfort from teething,
allergies, asthma, ear infection or other health-related issues are preventing
your child from taking longer naps. If you suspect any of these a visit to your
health care professional is in order.

Watch for signs of tirednessTired children fall asleep easily, and your child will give you signals
that he is ready for a nap. If he isn’t tired he’ll resist sleep, but if you
miss his signals, he can easily become overtired and will then be unable
to fall asleep when you finally do put him to bed.
Your child may demonstrate one or more of these signs that tell you he is tired
and ready to nap - now:

§losing interest in playtime

§rubbing his eyes

§looking glazed or unfocused

§becoming whiny, cranky or fussy

§losing patience with toys,
activities or playmates

§having tantrums

§yawning

§lying down or slumping in his seat

§caressing a lovey or blanket

§asking for a pacifier, bottle or
to nurse

The
nap routine

Once
you have created a nap schedule that works with your child’s daily periods of
tiredness, follow a simple but specific nap routine. Your child will be most comfortable
if there is a predictable pattern to his day. He may come to predict when his
naptime approaches and willingly cooperate with you.

How nap routines changeChildren’s sleep needs change over time, so remember that the routine that
you set up today won’t be the same one you’re using a year from now. Be
adaptable!

Books by Elizabeth Pantley

Would you like to know how to get your children to willingly cooperate? Would you like to eliminate many of your daily battles and end the yelling, nagging, and pleading? Would you like to handle discipline issues with knowledge and authority? During this process, would you like to learn how to boost your children's self-esteem, feel better about yourself as a person, and even improve your marriage?

In my years of raising eight children and advising parents through my pediatric practice and through twenty-three parenting books, I have learned as much as I have given. I have discovered one parenting dilemma that arises repeatedly. This dilemma is the arduous process of deciding on the right course of action when confronted with a discipline or behavior issue.

In Hidden Messages, parent and educator Elizabeth Pantley shares stories drawn from hundreds of parents that demonstrate how they unknowingly send their kids negative messages through their words and actions. After each story she provides a gentle lesson by showing the child's perspective on the same scenario and offers suggestions for specific changes parents can make to improve the hidden messages behind theirwords and deeds.